Protecting the environment with intelligence

Forests

In the past century, the rampant consumption of resources has led to the destruction of forests on a massive scale.

The consequences of deforestation for wildlife, human communities and the global climate are severe and EIA stands at the forefront of efforts to tackle it.

Tropical rainforests are home to half of the world’s species including such iconic mammals as tigers, elephants and orangutans. They provide communities with food and livelihoods,
and play a crucial role in absorbing the greenhouse gases driving global climate change.

Threats to forests are continuously evolving, but all too often deforestation is underpinned by poverty, unsustainable development policies, corruption and crime.

For more than two decades, EIA has fought to curb forest loss with our unique investigative and campaigning methods, exposing the criminals plundering them for valuable timbers and pushing for improved law enforcement and governance.

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China's blow to recycling means increased demand for brand new plastic - and the USA is cashing in

At a time when the apparent scale of global plastic pollution is spurring many nations to take action to reduce manufacture and prevent plastic waste from further polluting the environment, opening new polyethylene plants is reckless and irresponsible, akin to opening new CFC production factories after we first discovered ozone depletion.

And guess what? The same companies that punched a continent-sized hole in the ozone layer are still involved …

The world’s governments need to focus on reducing production of virgin plastics and investing in domestic reuse and recycling – continued growth of plastic production will just perpetuate the throwaway society and marine plastic pollution.

The loss of forests in Africa in the past century is substantially less than previously estimated, an analysis of historical records and paleontology evidence by Yale researchers shows.

Previous estimates put deforestation at 35% to 55% on the continent since 1900. The new analysis estimates closed-canopy forests have shrunk by 21.7%, according to findings published Dec. 11 in the journal Nature Ecology and Evolution. However, research also shows that some West and East African forests have been reduced between 80% and 90%.

International award recognises EIA’s ‘unique’ climate investigations and work

We were delighted to be among 60 recipients recognised in the Ozone Awards 2017 by Parties to the Montreal Protocol for extraordinary commitment and outstanding contributions to fighting climate change.

EIA was singled out for a Partnership Award in recognition of its unique contributions over several decades. The Secretariat noted: “From hard-hitting investigations on illegal ODS trade to successful advocacy to accelerate the HCFC phase-out and adopt a global HFC phase-down, EIA plays a unique and valuable role within the Montreal Protocol family."